Selena

At an attempt at being spontaneous for Mother's Day, my family hopped in the car, excited for a tasty Mother's Day breakfast. We drove all over the valley, being denied from one place after another (at least FIVE different restaurants!) because we didn't have reservations, so after an hour of driving (and kids whining), we stopped at Dunkin. Where reservations are never needed. Happened to have a nice little breakfast with happy, satisfied kids, after all!

I wonder if traveling with family is harder for the kids, or really the parents?

I'm flying to Atlanta for a family event this weekend (my cousin's Bar Mitzvah), and my husband Ethan and I had a hard time deciding whether to take the kids. After I realized my 3 year old would be charged like an adult ... flight price-wise, not as a criminal...but feels the same looking at these ridiculous rates!...we decided only two members of the family will take the venture. Obviously we can't leave the toddlers home alone to fend for themselves, so here's the final decision:

My 3 year old, Cole, and I are flying to ATL...he can't wait to wear his "dancing shoes" and "favorite outfit" (suit) for the Bar Mitzvah <3Ethan is staying home with our "adorably unpredictable" *sigh* 18month old, Lyla. (she's a screamer...who needs that on a plane...or at the synagogue.)

My biggest hangup wasn't about the plane, it was about whether to rent the toddler car seat for the car rental, or schlep my own. Many "don't rent the disgusting car seat with the car rental" comments are still ringing in my ears, but, I'm taking my chances (and testing my OCD to the max!); unlatching and relatching/securing the seat in the rental was stressing me out more than a used car seat lol!
Now I just have to remember to bring the coloring books, fruit snacks (chewing to help ear popping), Pull-ups.... and make sure he doesn't drink before flight so I don't have a meltdown in the nasty plane bathroom. Me. Not the curious 3 year old that has to touch everything .... better bring saniwipes, too.

Winter was rough. On us ... and especially on our vehicles. My poor Eddie the Edge.

Every time I pulled things out of my car – kids…groceries…MYSELF! – I would wipe off the grimy winter from my car onto my jacket. The winter gunk would make its way into Eddie too … one snowy day I accidentally kicked up the brown, slushy muck accumulating under the car into the side door pocket –yuuuuuk!!
The worst --- the muddy footprints my 3yr old would make on the back of the passenger seat…midwinter I just gave up and let him use the back of the passenger seat as his canvas.

I hated touching my car – there was winter filth everywhere.

For years I’ve always wanted to get Eddie the Edge detailed; I did it for the very first time this week...

I was a car detailing virgin. Now, I’m a changed woman.

Impressive Auto Details in Kingston handled my Eddie with such care.
I could actually see my reflection in the rims – beautiful … (and a tad scary – good thing I had floss….)

Impressive Auto Details restored Eddie’s pearly white paint.

In fact, the next day, a colleague asked me if I got a new car:

Me: Nope, Eddie is 3 years old.
Shocked Friend: Really? Looks like you just got it off the lot! (Peeking at the baby car seats in the back)
…you have KIDS and keep it THIS clean?! I’m IMPRESSED!
Me: Guess that’s why they’re IMPRESSIVE Auto Details.

Cheesy, I know. But a real conversation.

I love how there is no more grit in the cup holders. There’s no more “mystery liquid” on the console. And you’d never know my son used the back of the passenger seat to wipe his muddy foot art.

Not only does Eddie look a thousand times better, but the detailing made ME feel better. I’ve noticed I’ve been a lot more careful driving Eddie. I want to take care of my car and keep him clean and safe …

This caring about my car actually makes me a lot more cautious on the road – something everyone is thankful for.

Thank you, Impressive Auto Details in Kingston, for spring cleaning Eddie the Edge, and making me feel good on the road, too!
I don’t know why I never did this before – I will be back!

Want a chance at a FREE Spring Clean full detailing, too, from Impressive Auto Detailing? Send a pic of your Filthy Ride with "Eric & Selena" marked in the grime to this email: DirtyCar@froggy101.com

Boy, I wish it was socially acceptable to walk around with a tissue crammed up a nostril...gotta be better than a drippy one.

I gave up. On-air between breaks this morning, I had a tissue jammed up my nose ....hey, it's hard to type and edit if you have to constantly stop to wipe snot! Thankfully Eric is rather whimsical... kinda like a 5 yr old that just learned how to make fart noises... he giggled everytime he looked over at me. Glad I could entertain!

Ugh. I hate running out of lotion. My favorite lotion is apparently not "in season".... whatever the heck that means (don’t guys use the same cologne all year round?)

I was hoping a layer of “Pure Paradise” from B&BW would shield me from the frigid Hell of this weather, but after the purehell of trying to squeeze every morsel of the lotion out, I only had enough to cover the top half of my body.

On to the next sheath I could wrangle from my cabinet:

“Mad About You”

For the lower half of my lotion-deprived body? Sure, why not.

“Pure Paradise” and “Mad About You” …

Two different scents this morning. More than one body should handle. I think I created a new line:

“Pure Madness”

Here’s to a peculiar smelling day.

After seeing Eric in my bridesmaid dress, it made me reflect on the headaches brides have to endure (like difficult bridesmaids -- sorry sis!). But the biggest headache, was wedding gown alterations. I posted this just after my wedding dress was altered, almost 6 years ago ... and I'm still shocked by how I was treated. Don't let this happen to you....

I am not an expert at preparing a wedding (this is my first, and hopefully, LAST one!), so I definitely felt like I was at the mercy of wedding specialists. Unfortunately, there are a few who take advantage of that...The final straw was getting my bridal gown alterations.

Tip #1: If you're asked, "Are you an outside bride?", be wary.
A shop was recommended to me by a friend who has bought and altered dresses there before. When I called the shop, I was first asked, "Are you an OUTSIDE bride?" Yeah, what the heck does that mean? Turns out, they want to know if you your gown was purchased in their shop. Sometimes, it's just a matter of whether alterations are included with the "in-house" gown. Plenty of shops are happy to accommodate inside and outside customers. But for this particular shop, it led to tip #2...

Tip #2: If the shop doesn't set an appointment for you, find another shop.
Because I was an "Outside Bride," the shop wouldn't set an appointment with me. This particular shop only sets appointments for in-house brides; everyone else is told to come "whenever". "Whenever" means, "when you're not in the way of our ‘more important customers.'"

Don't be shooed into the corner like I was; I was left standing there for an hour as they catered to THREE other customers who came in AFTER me ("Hon, move over for them"). I even overheard the owner say to her assistant while glancing over at me, "I didn't even know she was coming in..."
REALLY?! I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!!

Tip #3: Take the dress -- pins and all - and RUN if the seamstress ever says this:
"Hon, I've been doing this for 20 years. Your dress is no different than the sweatshirt on that girl..."

Yup. She said that. Even better...that sweatshirt was on a customer that came in after me - and finished before me - as I stood there in my gown, in shock.

Tip #4: You may need more than one fitting. Make sure there's time between the first fitting and the wedding for additional alterations.

I should have left after Tip #3, but I didn't know my options. So I sucked it up and asked, "when will I be able to come in for my second fitting?"
...I was told I wouldn't be able to see my gown until FOUR DAYS before the wedding!

What, is she holding it ransom?!!

Tip #5: Have amazing friends that know how to take charge when necessary.

My bridesmaid and great friend, Jessica, is my hero. She insisted on going with me to get my dress back a few days later.
While the owner was insisting I still pay for taking an hour of her time (her time? I was hovering in the corner for an hour, remember?!), my friend, unbeknownst to me, was examining the dress. Next thing I know, she is calling from outside the shop, "Let's Go!"

...she took off with the dress!!! I couldn't believe it! No qualms about it! What a friend!

So, should I have paid the owner? Well, some people tell me no, because she "undid" the service by taking the pins out without asking.

Oh, and FYI, she stepped all over my dress as she brought it in!! Accident?! Hmmmmmm
Now, I'm sure the owner has her own version of what went down with a "bridezilla", but, so what. Is it too much to ask for some respect? She can call me what she wants, but, as one person eloquently said, we have a name for her: